Breaking: Yuvraj Singh To Play In Bushfire Cricket Bash

Former India batsman Yuvraj Singh and ex-Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram have become the first international players to confirm their participation in the Bushfire Cricket Bash fundraising match. The match is being played in order to help the victims of the bushfire that has ravaged large part of Australia.

The much-awaited game that will feature legendary cricketers will take place on February 8. The game will act as the curtain-raiser for the final of the ongoing Big Bash League. On the same day, a women’s T20 international between Australia and India at Junction Oval in Melbourne will also take place.

There will be fundraising initiatives across all three matches and all money raised will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting will lead both the teams. Yuvraj Singh has not played a competitive game since November when he played in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

One of the finest ODI and T20I players to have played the game, Yuvraj retired from international cricket in June last year. He is truly considered one of India’s greatest ever limited-overs players. Yuvraj Singh had famously smashed England bowler Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over at the 2007 T20 World Cup, becoming the second player to achieve the feat in international cricket. He was the Man of the Tournament when India lifted the 2011 World Cup at home.

On the other hand, Akram is also one of the finest pacers to have played the game. He finished his career with a staggering 415 wickets in 104 Tests as well as 502 in 356 ODI matches. At the time of his retirement, he was the highest wicket-taker in ODIs.

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Sachin Tendulkar to be the coach:

The addition of Yuvraj Singh and Akram comes after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh were announced as non-playing coaches for the charity match. Walsh will coach Shane Warne’s team while Tendulkar will be with the Ponting-led side.

Meanwhile, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has also confirmed his availability for the game. Along with Hayden, the likes of Justin Langer, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin and Mike Hussey, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Langer, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Alex Blackwell will also feature in the star-studded game.

Bushfire Cricket Bash

Players:

Shane Warne (c), Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Brad Fittler, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Elyse Villani, Grace Harris, Justin Langer, Luke Hodge, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Phoebe Litchfield, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh, Wasim Akram (More to be announced)

Coaches:

Sachin Tendulkar, Courtney Walsh

Non-playing capacity:

Steve Waugh, Mel Jones, Andrew Johns